The Cyprus Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus have launched the “Stagono-metro” (Drop-count) online application, at www.stagona.cy. The app is designed to help households in Cyprus understand and calculate how much water they consume daily.
The increasing demand for water, due to population growth, tourism, and agricultural activity, as well as the reduction in rainfall as a result of climate change, intensify the pressure on our water resources. Measures such as desalination and upgrading water distribution systems to reduce losses are vital. However, the prudent use of water and the avoidance of waste in our daily lives, where possible, remain equally important in addressing the problem.
In Cyprus, according to data, the average water consumption is estimated at around 140 liters per person per day, while the European average is lower, at 124 liters. Our country has historically faced a serious water scarcity problem and is among the five most water-stressed countries in the world. At the same time, 30% of Europeans face similar issues.
The “Stagono-metro” application addresses the general public and calculates how much water each individual consumes. It compares the user’s consumption to the average in Cyprus and suggests practical and measurable ways to save water, along with tips for parents. The application is free, user-friendly, and accessible to the public, and it is tailored to the needs of everyday life. Moreover, it promotes the #Cyprus125 initiative, which aims in reducing the average water consumption per person, from 140 to 125 liters per person, in order to reach the EU average.
The app was developed by the Smart Water Systems team at the KIOS Center of Excellence, based on research findings from international literature. The team specializes in technologies for monitoring and managing water resources.
The Ministry has expressed its gratitude to the KIOS Center of Excellence for providing the app free of charge and for their collaboration in jointly promoting it, thus reinforcing the collective effort for sustainable water resource management.
The app can be downloaded at: www.stagona.cy
